Month: June 2023

General Assembly 2023

General Assembly 2023 may not have included fireworks and momentous decisions, but it was still an eye opening experience. I was there to convene the Renewal Fellowship Prayer Room and act as an observer. July’s Renewal Café will be devoted to a debriefing of GA. Details and invitation below. Here’s my take on GA. DEFINITION … Continue reading General Assembly 2023

Report on the Special Committee on Racism

One overlooked General Assembly key moment this year was the final report of the Special Committee Re: Listening, Confession and Associations, which was commissioned in 2021 in response to formal petitions by the Han-Ca (Korean speaking) presbyteries which alleged racism in the PCC. It was a rich report, prompting lively discussion which extended for more … Continue reading Report on the Special Committee on Racism

We confess our racial bias

A Confession From the majority or dominant group within The Presbyterian Church in Canada to its minority and marginalized communities, adopted by General Assembly on June 7, 2023. Preamble Reading and responding to this confession cannot be done with an unredeemed heart, still filled with prejudice, judgment, and self-righteousness. To read and understand this document … Continue reading We confess our racial bias

Renewal News Summer 2023

Registration is now open for the Pastor Retreat on Eventbrite.

Download the entire Summer issue of Renewal News in PDF format, or read and comment on the individual articles as follows:

Let’s get on with it!

Hello friends and fellow Jesus followers. In Matthew’s gospel the Eleven have returned to Galilee as Jesus had told them previously. On meeting up with Jesus there is a dual response – worship and doubt. In spite of the uncertainty of some, Jesus gives them, and us, His “Great Commission.” He prefaces the command itself with the statement of His authority … Read more

The domesticated church

Renewal Day 2023. Like wild animals removed from their natural environments, are today’s Western believers overly domesticated and thereby innocuous? Have we allowed ourselves to be tamed under the control of the ruler of this world in order to fit in and not be too offensive? Cory McKenna, the speaker at our 2023 Renewal Day … Continue reading The domesticated church

Young Adults, the Gospel, and Creativity

Parkwood’s Interactive Worship Experiment. Worship is not a performance but a participative experience. Parkwood Presbyterian Church (Ottawa, ON) has been exploring this concept through a series of monthly interactive church services led by young adults (those aged 18-35). The need for an interactive church service sprang out of Parkwood’s youth ministry. The congregation is blessed … Continue reading Young Adults, the Gospel, and Creativity

Renewal’s Financial Situation

Board may be faced with difficult decisions in November. The good news is that Renewal Fellowship continues to be blessed with financial support from its members and supporting congregations. Every month, we receive significant donations. All of them believe that what we are doing to speak out on behalf of the evangelical wing of The … Continue reading Renewal’s Financial Situation

You are Peter

Matthew 16:13-18 is a fascinating conversation. And revealing. It sheds as much light on the relationship between Jesus and His people today as it did about the dynamics He had with His disciples. The problem then was that the world rejected The Son of God outright. To the Rulers of the Visible World (the Roman Empire) He was a nuisance to be controlled or eliminated. To the church of … Read more